New battery technology for electric cars

[corncobs]

I found this news article today sounds very interesting and promising. It should also help with battery technology in hybrid cars.

 

http://www.electric-vehiclenews.com/2013/12/japans-sekisui-chemical-develop-silicon.html

 

Sekisui Chemical has developed a material that can triple the capacity of lithium ion batteries, allowing electric vehicles to travel about 600km on a single charge -- roughly as far as gasoline-powered cars can go without refilling.

Edited December 14, 2013 by corncobs

[acdii]

Oh now THAT would get people interested in electric cars. Range is what keeps me from even looking at them. I drive 100+ miles a day. If the FFETi weren't so damned expensive that would have been the car for me. I can make the EV work in two ways, on the weekends, trips to the stores, all EV, during the week, EV later when I reach CL, that would get us to our offices, and then return trip home switch back the hybrid after leaving CL.

[hybridbear]

Very cool. Thanks Corncobs!

[Texasota]

When new battery technology like this is deployed in hybrids what would be more desirable in the FFH:

1. Shrink the battery size/weight so that your trunk space can be reclaimed?
   
2. Keep the battery size/weight the same and have triple the battery capacity?

[DeeCee]

My personal preference would be option 2.

[corncobs]

Somewhere in between would be nice. On the other hand it could also be that those flat cell's can be placed into other spaces than the trunk. Maybe Tesla like as part of the frame?

[acdii]

Lighter weight cells of the same capacity as the current cells that take up less room would give us better MPG, and a pack the same size as the current one but much higher capacity gives greater range. Either way its a win.